Staff Correspondent

Leaders from three main political parties – Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya Party (JaPa) – on Monday gathered for a national dialogue Democracy International organised through the USAID Strengthening Political Landscape in Bangladesh project.

Despite having different beliefs, they acknowledged similar challenges faced by women in progressing politically. They pledged to collaborate to ensure more involvement of women in political leadership, read a press release.

The dialogue took place at a Dhaka hotel and attracted nearly a hundred women leaders from across the country.

Speakers at the event called for political parties to respect the legal mandate to include 33% women in their parties' main committees and dedicated state funding for women's election campaigns.

Efforts to enhance women's participation are underway through the Multiparty Advocacy Forum (MAF) and Local Party Strategic Plan Implementation Committees, established under the USAID-funded SPL project.

Women participating in today’s event are members of the ‘Narirjoye, sobar joy’ (Women Win, Everyone Wins) campaign, which includes over 20,000 women leaders nationwide and facilitated 6,829 women joining grassroots committees.

Sanjida Khanom, an Awami League Central Executive Committee member and parliament whip, emphasised the need to shift societal attitudes toward women, noting the low representation of women in main party committees.

Sharifa Quader, a Jatiya Party presidium member, acknowledged progress but highlighted persistent discrimination faced by women.

Rasheda Begum Hira, BNP's training affairs secretary and former member of parliament, stressed the importance of women working together and advocating within their parties on women's issues.

During the dialogue, women leaders from various regions shared their experiences of overcoming challenges.

Leslie Richard, Deputy Chief of Party of Democracy International, mentioned support for a private bill to secure public funds for women candidates' campaign expenses.

In her closing remarks, Dana L Olds, Chief of Party of Democracy International, emphasised the potential for change through unified cross-party advocacy efforts of women and male allies to increase women's leadership roles.

Democracy International Senior Director Lipika Biswas moderated the dialogue.